Chapter VII: Handwriting on the Wall

Lester Blue was a lot of things.

A devoted son, yes.

A visionary, definitely.

A Gene Stealer, most definitely yes.

Above all, an artist.

But he never thought he'd be a lover.

As he looked down at the slumbering Emerson Wills in nothing but his birthday suit, his ass still sore from the previous night's escapades, he feared what he was becoming... and how it was affecting he message he hoped to give the world. He pursed his lips, brow furrowed in worry as he quickly did a self-assessment.

The Gene Stealer known as Shark Tamer was the one that had approached him with the offer to become a part of their group for one purpose; to display his art for the world to see. Frustrated that his message was rejected because of his credentials, he joined willingly when his powers as an Outsider manifested through his own drawings. After his transformation he began his work, a little painting here and some graffiti there was how it was supposed to start. But soon he had a vision of bringing his message to the world, and with his Gene Stealer form and powers, he was confident he could bring his message to the world.

That Chimera wanted him to exploit love and affection to spread his message was even better.

But now...

He was starting to have doubts because as he stared at Emerson, he found himself doubting his drive. Could he continue with his plan if he did not believe in it?

Lester shook his head of that final thought.

Of course he could. He had invested too much in it. Lives were already drastically changed.

The musk of the sexy, muscular leopard and the pheromones in the air must be clouding his judgement.

Some fresh air was needed.

Lester moved out of the bedroom, taking his clothes, striding into the lounge room and pushing the sliding door open, exposing him to the clean, crisp West California air. Navigating around the pool, he leaned against the railings to gaze upon the vast artificial island that stretched out before him. The mainland seemed so distant from where he stood. The sun was just starting to set behind him and it cast a beautiful array of colors across the sky. It was as if nature itself was painting a picture across the clouds. Strokes of vibrant orange, the overlaying glow of yellow and the final setting of purple as twilight began to set in. It was all so beautiful in a way...and yet he still thought back to how it was just about the same time of day when Emerson had first kissed him and he had been swept off his feet by that contact.

He didn't know why. Something just clicked inside of him. Maybe it was the way Emerson spoke, or how he held the young artist - so tenderly and affectionately - but all that he knew was that deep down it resonated with him. He could practically feel his heartstrings pulling him slowly towards the leopard, and with each passing day, they drew closer and closer to being intertwined with Emerson.

Over the past few days, he felt a sense of pride swell in his chest when the leopard had gone out and started donating to charities, making an effort to send money to the victims of the Gene Stealers. He made passionate speeches that stirred the soul and uplifted a city gripped in fear. All while doing this he still made time to come and spend time with him while he worked on his masterpiece in the apartments study. Emerson was true to his word and had gotten Lester that spot. It would be the finale to his work... to Minos' work and the message would be spread across all of West California.

Every day, he also watched for new tattoos to spring up across Emerson's body and sure enough, they did. But the strong leopard fought off the temptations, fought off the transformations with all his might. It truly impressed Lester. No one had ever resisted the change for so long. Then again, it was usually Lester that found the new markings, if any, while Emerson just nodded and accepted the change without truly looking at it.

That was the crux of the Minos Strain; direct visual contact with the artwork. Recordings would not work as the message was lost in the pixels. It had to be direct.

That was why he needed the gallery where thousands of people would be there to see his work and thousands would become infected. Yes, his piece was minor but it was one funded and supported by Emerson Wills. That would attract enough attention as it is and he had already made arrangements to ensure that when that gallery was full, it would remain locked until every last person was transformed... and then unleashed into the city.

No matter how strong they were, thousands of mutagenic bovines would be more than a match for the Alliance and the Outsiders, especially if some of them already had affection for one on another and developed superpowers.

His phone rang.

Lester reached into the pair of shorts that still lay in his arms and pulled the device to his ear.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing!?"

It was Gnoll.

He smiled to himself. "What do you mean?"

"Why the fuck are you attacking the Outsiders now!? I took them on this camping trip to get them as far away from the city as possible so you could make your next strike! You're meant to convert more people into supers! Shark Tamer told you to find a family to test if familial love equates to the love between couples!"

Lester smiled. "Sorry. Change of plans."

"Change of -" Gnoll was cut off and Psycho took his place.

"Listen here, you piece of shit!" growled Gnoll's mate. "Chimera wants -"

"I don't give a fuck about what he wants," hissed Lester. "I have my message. I'm going to tell the world about it and there's nothing you, the Alliance and especially the Outsiders can do about it."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Lester smiled to himself. "Tell you what? I've got a call with the team in a couple of hours. Jump on that and I'll tell you exactly what I mean."

*****

Spit Roast and Bullhorn stood at the driveway nude and framed by the cracking flames that encircled the entire clearing. Caleb felt fear running up spine, instantly killing the remnants of his boner and washing away his afterglow in a moment. His only thought was to immediately protect Ashton from transformation.

"Ash, get inside," he said. "Lock yourself somewhere. If you can, throw down anything you find usefully from inside."

"Lock myself in to a wooden house when there's a fire raging all around us?" the tiger responded indignantly. "I'd rather get turned into one of those bulls than meet a slow, painful death like that." Both he and Lars shot the tiger a foul stare which made him flinch before he regained his composure. "Alright, alright. I'm going. Just don't forget about me, okay?"

The tiger bolted back inside, shutting the door behind him.

Caleb hastily began putting on his clothes, not truly concerned about how these Gen 2s knowing his identity. The Gene Stealers already knew from Gnoll, after all. His concern was over how they knew to find them deep in the Canadian wilderness.

"Two on two," Lars muttered, slipping on his shirt "Cale, you think you can handle Bullhorn? I'll take on Spit Roast." Lars narrowed his gaze toward the bull surrounded in flames and held out his hands as two jets of blue flames erupted from his paws

Caleb seized the banister and tore a large section off it. His powers took control of the piece of wood, transforming it into a large, circular wooden shield which he wore on his left arm. There was a button just where his paw was and when he pressed it -

Shlllt!

Large, curved blades erupted from the rim of the shield and began spinning wildly like a buzzsaw.

"Yeah, I think I'll be fine."

Nodding at one another, they leapt over the porch and began to approach the two bulls cautiously. No words needed to be said as the bulls started their advance as well. Caleb's feet took him at an easy march, his heart accelerating with every step. The bulls ducked their heads, levelling their horns at the two while still showing off their broad grins. Lars broke into a faster run and the bulls matched that by widening their steps. Caleb broke into a full run, his shield in front of him.

The bulls -

WHAM!

Bullhorn's horns extended slamming right into the shield. Despite the force and the supernatural reinforcement of the horns, they were completely stopped by the empowered wood. Caleb pushed his shield and the horns upwards, forcing Bullhorn to rear back. He crossed the distance between them, jabbing his buzzsaw-shield at the bull. The blades grazed the bull's thick, muscled torso, angering him. Bullhorn rolled to the ground, laying himself flat. His horns immediately extended, shooting straight towards Caleb.

Combat instincts kicked in and he immediately launched into the air, spinning around the slicing at the horn with his buzzsaw-shield. If he could slice through those horns, Bullhorn would be forced to wait long moments before his regeneration fixed them. However, the bull remembered their last experience too well and the horns immediately retracted faster than a viper's strike.

He was fast!

That became painfully apparent when Bullhorn pushed himself off the ground and into the air and slammed his shoulder straight into Caleb who was still in mid-air! The massive, body check sent him soaring all the way back into the cabin, crashing into the wall but not enough to explode through it.

"Crap... that hurt," he grunted, his flanks burning and his back in particular pain.

"Not so hot without your weapons, eh, Weapons Master!" laughed the bull.

As Caleb brushed aside the rubble and reached for his shield, he saw Lars and Spit Roast were effectively playing a game of hot potato. Spit Roast shot a bolt of black flames from his muzzle that Lars easily caught and sent back. The bull would just shoot another bolt of flames at it, sending it straight back.

Grimacing, Caleb staggered to his feet.

"Cale!"

He glanced over his shoulder as Ashton handed him a kayak paddle from the small hole he had made in the wall.

"Thanks!"

Ashton's eyes widened. "Look out!"

Caleb turned in time to catch Bullhorn charging at him, shoulder ready to slam him right through the wall. He swung the paddle, the makeshift weapon wreathed in blue light and feathers. He became puzzled as it began to shrink but when he struck Bullhorn, it sent the bull flying to his left, crashing into the ground. The bull gave a cry of shock as the entire weapon warped and twisted around him to form a large, bizarre mechanism.

"What the...?"

Bullhorn was bent over a large, wooden machine, hands tied behind his back and clearly restrained against a curved bench. His legs were tied underneath the table, effectively being hogtied but ensuring that his legs were spread wide so that his bare ass was exposed for one reason and one reason alone... The enormous wheel of paddles that hovered precariously over his big, meaty butt cheeks.

"Uh..." Caleb began.

Then the wheel began spinning.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

"Motherfucker!" screamed Bullhorn. "What the fuck is this!?"

Ashton gave Caleb a very worried look. "I'd like to know myself. Caleb... are you into BDSM?"

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

"What!?" he cried. "Of course not! I can't control what these things turn into!"

SMASH!

Bullhorn broke free with sheer force of strength alone and seized the paddle wheel. He snapped it in two, eyes burning in rage while his ass was still red and raw.

"Gotta go!" Ashton exclaimed, leaping back into the cabin.

Caleb brought up his shield just as Bullhorn came charging at him. Both of his horns then came shooting towards him in a flurry of jabs until shot both of his horns and pinned them onto the shield. The Gen 2's momentum plus the might of his horns combined was a crushing force. It slammed right into Caleb's shield. Though it did not break the wooden frame, it sent him crashing right into the cabin, splinters of wood shattering all around him.

He slammed into the ground, blood on his lips.

WHAM!

A massive weight fell on his chest and a mighty hand gripped his wrist. The hissing of the buzzsaw blades caused his brain to panic and he instantly locked his right arm. He seized his arm with his free paw, pushing it back with all his might even though Bullhorn's superior, superpowered strength pushed those hissing blades closer and closer to his neck!

Caleb was force to twist his neck away but it just kept getting closer and closer!

Bullhorn's eyes sparkled with glee.

"Cale!"

A piece of leather landed on his muzzle. It looked like a harness for much of their camping gear. For a second, there was a flash of fear on Bullhorn's face, enough for his grip to weaken. Caleb pressed his foot against the bull's stomach and kicked him off. His strength compared to the bull's was only enough to push the bovine back a few feet but it was enough for him to seize the strap around his muzzle and channel his power through it.

He swung the glowing weapon.

SMACK!

His eyes widened as leather bonds erupted from the floor and ceiling, seizing Bullhorn's wrists and ankles to suspended him in the air. The strap in his paws extended to become a fully-fledged whip complete with nine stinging heads. Now that Bullhorn was tangled, he raised up the whip again and slashed it across the bull's chest, leaving big red gashes.

"Caleb, you're kinky..." Ashton said from the stairs.

"I'm not doing this!"

Bullhorn roared and yanked his wrists free, letting him drop to the ground. Caleb lashed out again. The moment the nine tails crackled through the air, two more leather bonds sprang from the air and wrapped around Bullhorn's wrists, pulling him back into the air. By the time the whip smacked into the bovine's wounded chest, he was fully restrained again.

"And yet you continue to make this alpha bull your bitch."

"Will you stop with the commentary! I'm trying to survive here!"

Bullhorn suddenly ducked his head and his horns came shooting out. Caleb threw himself to the ground and had to roll almost immediately as the horns came jabbing at him in rapid succession. He rolled up next to the base of the stairs and scrambled up their first few steps next to Ashton.

"Go! Go!" he cried, pushing the tiger. He heard Bullhorn breaking free, tearing the leather straps from where they had hooked themselves into the ceiling and floor. While Ashton wasn't looking, he threw the whip into a room and bolted away, unwilling to use the perverse weapon any more.

BOOM!

Bullhorn came shooting out of the floor, having leapt up from the first floor. He landed in front of Ashton, grinning broadly. Coats and shoes scattered all around him, apparently having burst through a closet.

Caleb spied a steel capped boot by his side and gripped it. He channelled his power through it and threw the glowing ball of light. Bullhorn's eyes widened but he was too big to effectively move in the cramped hallway. The boot hit his face and he was instantly wreathed in another burst of feathers and a blue glow.

Seconds later, he was bound to a thick, metal table with a huge, mechanism fitted with a boot hovering over his junk.

"What the hell is with this place and everything turning into some perverted sex mechanism!?" Caleb cried. He stormed over to the machine before it could activate and sliced through one of Bullhorn's restraints. "I'm a dude and even I don't want this happening to you."

Bullhorn snarled and -

Ssshink!

Caleb brought his shield in time to block the bull's horns from spearing him. At that same time, the machine activated and he winced as the ball-crushing force slammed into Bullhorn's sack. He even heard Ashton cringe.

He turned and bolted away from the crazed bull as the machine continued its torment, the bull's roars of anger and pain rocketing through the house. They both shot up the last flight of stairs into the third floor...

... and froze.

"That explains it," he sighed.

He remembered Ben mentioning that the third floor was built exclusively for the Alpha Packs sexual activities. He never imagined that those activities included leather straps, whips, electrical stimulation and what looked like a mechanised Iron Maiden with dildos positioned strategically in certain places. He didn't even know what holes some of those toys could go into...

Ashton let out a thoughtful sound and handed him a crate of large, pink, rubber dildos.

"Now you're just doing this on purpose," Caleb growled.

"The way I figure it, it's the unassuming things that turn into perverse sexual tools of stimulation that reminds you that you never know what turns you on until you pop a boner."

"What?"

"Just turn that crate into a weapon. What's the worst that could happen?"

Upon hearing Bullhorn break from his bonds, Caleb sighed and channelled his power through the crate of dildos, quietly praying for something not too embarrassing.

SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!

Both of them turned as two, ivory blades of bone came shooting out of the ground.

"Crap!" they cried in unison as the horns kept jabbing madly through the floor, searching for them.

He led the way back down the stairs just as the crate finished its transformation. Bullhorn finally saw the two and began storming up the stairs with a wicked grin plastered onto his face. But the moment he got upstairs ... his grin faded. Sitting on Caleb's shoulder, was a giant, bright, pink, phallic-shaped bazooka with the letters "IBC" written on the side.

"Oh fuck me..." Bullhorn stated.

Caleb lifted the weapon.

"I call this, 'Pocket Rocket'."

And pulled the trigger.

SHOOM! SHOOM! SHO-SHOOM!

Dozens of rocket-powered dildos came shooting out of the weapon, barrelling towards a stunned Bullhorn. All of them collided with his thick chest, pushing him clear through the wall and back out into the wilderness. After the initial shock had worn off, Caleb and Ashton then rushed towards the hole that Bullhorn had made and looked out at the swath he had cut through the forest.

"Huh....what a disappointing climax..." muttered Ashton. BOOM!

Out in the distance, a pillar of white goo exploded from somewhere deep within the forest and rained down on a large section of trees_._

"Now that's more like it!"

SMACK!

"OW!" Ashton rubbed the back of his head and snarled at Caleb. "What was that for?"

"That lame ass joke," Caleb answered, tossing his weapon aside with a degree of disgust.

"At least it's better than 'Pocket Rocket'," Ashton argued.

"No more than Paddles the Shaming Machine, Nine Tails of Humiliation and Boot of Ball Busting."

"Point."

They both then dashed down to the first floor and back out into the front yard just as the roar of engines filled the air. Lars had subdued Spit Roast, the fiery bull on his back and looking up at the Doberman who had a thin, blade of flames levelled at his neck.

Above them was a jet black hovering transport. Mary and Ben were waving from the side doors while Bren looked to be the pilot.

"This is one way to end a holiday..." Caleb muttered bitterly.

"No rest for the wicked," Ashton said softly. "So sleep for the saviours."

*****

"I told you he was trouble!" Wendigo roared, slamming his fists into the rippling table. "He deviated from the plan early on! We told him what to do and he went his own way! We should have stopped him when he attacked that police station!"

Shark Tamer let out a sigh and was no longer giving his trademark toothy grin. It was a rare sight to see the normally jovial scientist unhappy. "Indeed... This is an unexpected turn of events."

Dragon Knight once again occupied the seat beside Chimera's empty throne. He folded his arms against his impressive chest. In calm, controlled words, he asked, "What could he want?"

"Who knows at this point?" answered Spider Queen from where she hung on her web above them all. "Chaos? An army?"

"Art."

All eyes turned to Gnoll who came charging into the room flanked by Psycho. He took his seat and immediately began tapping on the console. "Lester Blue is an artist and when Shark Tamer recruited him, it was with promises to expose his art to the world, to give him more visibility. He's a frustrated artist that has talent but was put down from any major showings because he doesn't have a formal portfolio or any degrees."

"He has been arrested multiple times for vandalism," Psycho said with a grunt. "I've run the records and on the night that he attacked the police station, it was because of vandalism. Whatever he wants, it's based around his art."

Wendgio roared and spun towards Shark Tamer. "You recruited a bloody psychopath with an art obsession into our ranks! Plus you gave him the power to change others for the sake of something as stupid as art!"

"What power we grant to others is theirs to do with as they see fit."

As Chimera's voice echoed through the chamber all the Gene Stealers froze. Again, their mysterious leader appeared in his seat without any of them noticing. "Whatever he does, it does not matter."

"I think you'll disagree with that, Chimera."

All eyes turned to the centre of the table where a holographic image of the rogue Gene Stealer appeared, grinning at them with his bovine muzzle.

"Minos!" Gnoll growled, rising to his feet.

"You wanted to use me as a tool for your tests," Minos said. "Just another Original that if and when a cure will be made, my art, my identity will be demoted to a mere spy just like Gnoll."

There, Gnoll smirked and they could all sense Chimera smiling as well. But their leader showed no pause and simply shook his head at Gnoll and the hyena sat back down.

"If that is truly what you believe, Minos," Chimera said. "Then you are correct. I never had plans beyond you testing out the new strain and our theories. I knew you would take this path and I am fully aware of your _message_not to mention your affection for one particular Emerson Wills."

Minos flinched and all the Gene Stealers could see it.

"Though a cure for Gnoll's strain has been discovered, he still continues to serve us beyond just merely spying on the Outsiders. Had you decided to remain loyal, you would have your uses. The future is uncertain but you have made your choice. Make your threats."

The chair squeaked slightly as the shadowy figure appeared to lean back in his chair. "I assure you, it will not matter."

"I will make it matter!" shouted Minos defiantly. His demeanour then changed suddenly as he smiled cockily at them all. "Because after all, the Gene Stealers are still considered a minor group of villains when compared to the greater foes across the world. Some bits and small cells here and there but focused on West California Island. But what will happen when the entire Island becomes infected with a strain?"

Shark Tamer sat up. "What are you talking about?"

Minos smirked as his image vanished... and displayed various locations, all from West California Island across various districts and locales within the city. Gnoll's jaw dropped and each Gene Stealer froze save for Chimera whose one good eye narrowed.

"It doesn't take that long to tag a place, you know. You of all people know how my strain works, Chimera. I've tagged all these locations and I just need to apply the last touches to make them all active. They're all in very public places too. Come the moment when people wake and start roving the streets, they're going to find it impossible not to look at my art. One good, long glance is all I need. And then the city will be mine_._

"Do enjoy the show."

Minos image vanished and the congregation instantly panicked.

"He will make us the number one target in the entire world!" Spider Queen shouted. "We will be hunted! My babies -"

"Forget your warped children!" shouted Wendigo. "We are not ready for a full-scale war!"

Dragon Knight, calm as ever, regarded Chimera. "Was this his message? The purpose of his art? To expose us all?"

Chimera remained silent for a long moment as the others argued. Then his blue eye dilated slightly and all of the Gene Stealers suddenly froze he said, "At inception, yes. However, things have changed as they always will. He had hoped to destroy the Outsiders with his little ambush but that failed. He will be forced to adapt again."

The leader of the Gene Stealers paused, letting his words sink in. His eye turned to Shark Tamer. "It is time to contact our dear friends, the Outsiders, and the Alliance. We have a message_for them_."

*****

Caleb winced as Mary injected him with the regenerative nanites to speed up his recovery. His back muscles in particular were sore and she had to pluck dozens of splinters that had embedded themselves into his flesh but otherwise, he was relatively unharmed. Lars was recovering as well though he only suffered minor injuries in comparison. According to Mary and Ben, they had immediately called Bren when Mary sensed the approach of Minos' goons. Alex and Mike were already flying back to West California on their own, safe from the Outsiders.

"I don't get it," Ben murmured softly. "No one should've known where we were. This is one of the reasons I didn't tell anyone about where we're going. The only person that knew before hand was Mary."

She held up her hands. "I didn't tell anyone. When I drew close to Spit Roast and Bullhorn, I tried to listen in on their thoughts and all I gleaned was that Minos had told them where to go and had arranged transport."

No one doubted her.

Especially when the call came.

Caleb's phone rang, 'Waiting for You' playing all across the dull grey fuselage of the transport. They all exchanged glances and then turned to Bren who flicked the transport into autopilot and came over.

"That's not me," said the tiger.

Slowly, Caleb switched the phone to speaker and answered it. "Hello?"

"Greetings Outsiders."

That was not a voice they recognised.

"Ah, my mistake. We have never actually spoken before. You know me as Shark Tamer."

Caleb held the phone out at arm's length. Bren snatched it from him.

"How did you get this number?" he demanded.

"Nothing is beyond our reach little clone and you would do well to remember that. Ah but I have little time to spar verbally with you or challenge that little ass you have in your back pocket who continuously foils our attempts at recording scientific data. I come with a warning."

"A threat?" Bren growled.

"Dear me, no. As I said, this is a warning. As you may be aware, Minos recently attacked your little retreat. Well, that was all a vain attempt to keep you far away from his true goal - total and utter conversion of West California Island using his strain."

Everyone froze.

The entire island?

"Explain," Bren said, still baring his fangs." You have two minutes."

"Two minutes? Oh my, I best be swift then. Minos transforms others through a complex series of messages encoded into the art that he creates. While Gnoll provided transformation through aural stimulation, Minos does so through visual. Anyone who sees the pieces of art, are instantly infected. It is a slower process and requires constant exposure, however but I think it's one of my more brilliant ideas."

Ashton leaned forward. "What about the tattoos? All of the victims have been seen to possess tattoos and if I recall from the reports, the tattoos are seen to spread on the victims at the moment of transformation."

"Oh that is a new voice. Hello. Pleased to make your acquaintance. A very good question, by the way. You see, the tattoos are just a medium by which Minos spreads his 'art' if you will and the means to provide that constant exposure I spoke of previously. Nanobots used for tattoos require a constant signal communicated between each other to maintain their shape. Without this signal, the nanobots will simply float around the bloodstream and be incapable of remaining so vibrant. In short, these nanobots are dependent on one another to survive.

"Minos' art emits a counter signal that has a two-fold purpose. The first is that it jams the tattoo signal and forces another one onto the nanobots. It forces the little machines to obtain their signal from the transformation. Second, the signal interacts with the subconscious of the viewer, triggering the transformation. The nanobots react to transformation and replicate themselves while reshaping themselves to reflect the user's subconscious.

"Keep in mind that this signal is on a level that is not within the normal visible spectrum. It is something that the conscious brain cannot comprehend. It is sent directly into the subconscious_. This means that when a victim has the tattoo imprinted upon them and they_ watch it spread_, they are merely accelerating the transformation._

"In short, the nanobots spread the infection and the infection, in turn, feeds the nanobots. Generally, the more tattoos an individual has, the further they are along in the transformation."

"I'm willing to wager any sort of bodily fluids carry the nanobots as well?" Ben growled.

"Just the nanobots, correct, but that is enough. Minos has infused his very blood with the stuff and anyone who so much as gets bitten by him will become infected. The downfall of this, of course, is if no one regards the images made, the transformation will not continue. Initial contact may provide some initial markings but without viewing it consistently and stimulating the transformation, the nanobots will remain ineffective. Further, viewing the imagery through recordings or any sort of filters distorts the signals and renders it ineffective."

That would explain why no one ever reported becoming infected after seeing all those inked up bulls and cows on TV.

"Why are you telling us this?" Bren asked. "What's the catch?"

"Catch, my dear fellow, is that the sun has set on West California Island and in twelve hours, it will rise again. It will take you an hour to reach the Island leaving you eleven hours to destroy the pieces of graffiti that Minos has plastered all over the Central Business District with his signal embedded into them. These are extremely public locations. I have already sent the locations to your little friend and have worked with our agents to quarantine the areas with as much subtly as possible. However, that won't last forever as the city's AIs work to undermine my efforts. People will see those pieces of art. Prolonged exposure will be their undoing and he has positioned all of these pieces in places that are hard to ignore.

"I am sure I do not need to tell you what this could mean for the entire city."

Caleb's heart began to pound hard in his chest. All he could think about was his family. They were living in the suburbs but if this infection spread all over the CBD, it would not be long before it bled into the surrounding suburban areas. Worse, the Elemental Tower was situation at the centre of the city. Could Lance and his Dad get the rest of the family to the Tower without risk of transformation? Would the Tower even remain standing when their enemy preyed on their sight?

"How many?" he asked.

"Seven locations all spread out."

"Why are you telling us this?" Mary asked, stepping forward and hovering right over Caleb's phone. "Is this some sick, twisted game you're playing?"

"As entertaining as that thought would be, no. Minos has gone rogue. His desires are no longer our own and his actions will destroy years of work as well as your fine city. I suggest you make haste lest you wish for your loved ones to fall prey to his abilities. As I recall, you have yet to develop a cure."

Click.

Glances were exchanged and panic began to rise.

"I'll call the Alpha Pack!" Ben shouted, reaching for his phone.

"I'll get the Alliance on the horn," supplemented Lars.

"I'll call whoever I can and make up some bullshit excuse," Ashton added. "Do you have the locations?"

Caleb's phone buzzed. A text message had been sent with all seven locations.

"There!" Bren exclaimed, hurrying to the cockpit. He pressed a few buttons and put on his headset. It sounded like he was talking to Elliot and from all appearances, Elliot was shouting back.

Caleb took his phone and instantly dialled Lance's number.

"Cale? What's up?"

"We were just attacked by Spit Roast and Bullhorn."

The panic in his brother's voice was evident. "What!? What happened? Are you alright?"

"We're fine." He glanced around the fuselage as everyone began rapidly texting their loved ones and trying to explain that the needed to make sure they were not in the CBD. "Those two have been restrained and the FBI have taken them into cryogenic custody. But Minos has bigger plans. He spreads his infection by art. When people look at it, the transformation starts. The tattoos are just a means to making the art. He's painted seven locations all across the CBD with graffiti embedded with his transformative signal. You need to grab everyone, make sure they're safe and get the Alliance to help! I'm sending you a text. Just tell them it came from Lars who got the intel, told me, and then texted to you so we can cover more ground."

"Fucking shit... Okay, send me the locations. I'll get the Alliance to hurry up. What's the plan?"

"We're on our way back. We'll meet up with you soon."

He hung up just as Bren got off the communicator from Elliot.

"We'll split up into two teams," the tiger said. "Caleb, Ben, I want you to take the north side. I'm sure the Alpha Pack will be there to lend support. Mary, Lars, go for the south. Madman will meet you. I'll coordinate the FBI and local troops to help. Shark Tamer said that the signal is scrambled if seen through any recording device so maybe if the troops wear night vision goggles it'll do the same. Elliot hopes so at least."

"I'll need a weapon," Caleb said.

"Way ahead of you." Bren reached into a crate and pulled out _Branding Iron_along with all their Outsider outfits.

Caleb hastily put on his weapon and uniform while Bren kicked the transport into overdrive. Segregation amongst the Gene Stealers was a new concept to him as he had always assumed the Gene Stealers remained united as a single force under Chimera's command. The thought that one of them was going against their will utterly surprised him.

At overdrive, the trip to the island still took twenty minutes from when they received Shark Tamer's call. The CBD was already falling under quarantine with police officers moving in front of each of the locations without truly looking at the particular pieces of work. Supers were hurrying to move people out of adjacent buildings. News channels were scrambling their people to cover the areas.

Caleb retrieved his tablet and began tuning into the news the moment they got within range.

"Tom, I'm standing here are the barricade around the West Marrington district where police and FBI agents have quarantined the area due to what is being described as a potential 'Gene Stealer Alert'. With me now is Constable Gellar who is in charge of this particular barricade." The correspondent, that happened to be a rather slim panda dressed in a blue suit, turned to the human officer standing beside her. "Constable Gellar, what can you tell me of what is happening and the reason behind this sudden barricade."

"Well Trisha, we just received news from both the FBI and the Elemental Alliance that seven locations around -"

Suddenly his feed was cut off. He never even noticed the others looming over him until he flinched and bumped his shoulder against Lars.

"You've been tricked!" came the cry. Everyone's eyes widened as they saw Gnoll's features staring at them with some urgency. "We all have! Minos didn't plant transformative art on those walls! He -"

CRASH!

"Sweet Jesus Wolf!" Bren shouted. "What the fucking hell is that!?"

Everyone turned towards the cockpit. Something enormous came surging out from one of the quarantined alleyways. Caleb's jaw locked in the open position as a monstrous claw shot out and seized the nearby wall, crushing it beneath its weight as it pulled the rest of its body out from the wall itself. A creature that looked an enormous feral bear rose out of the alleyway. Everything else about its body was perfectly proportionate and photorealistic except for its arms which were simply _huge_and extended well beyond its feet, making it almost look like an enormous sloth!

"Minos' inherent superpower is to bring art to life!" shouted Gnoll. "Any art at all be it painting, drawing or sculpture will be brought to life and submitted to his will! Get those people out of there!"

Then the plot came into full fruition.

Minos had no intention of transforming the city. He used that as an excuse to lure the Gene Stealers into contacting the Alliance and Outsiders. He knew that they would put quarantines around the affected areas to prevent an 'infection' from spreading. But now, he had seven venerable killing grounds all over the city! The loss of life would be far more disastrous than an outbreak!

"I've got the one at the Westhigh Mall," Gnoll shouted. "The rest are -"

A tremendous roar ripped through the air. The transport twisted madly in the air, throwing everyone against its walls. The screech of metal being torn apart cut off the rest of Gnoll's words as the enormous bear's claws tore right through the flank of the ship.

"We're going down!" Bren cried.

Mary screamed and Caleb instinctively held her close. He had never seen her so afraid before but then again, they had never plummeted to their death before.

He shut his eyes...

BOOM!

*****

"Fuck!" Wendigo roared, leaping to his feet. "That asshole played us!" Then he spun towards Chimera. "You knew this, didn't you? You always know! I don't know how but you knew this was going to happen and - ack!"

The monstrous Gene Stealer suddenly gasped, clutching his throat. He collapsed against his chair, clutching his throat while the rest of his body convulsed.

"Yes." Chimera's one good eye narrowed. "I knew that was Minos' intention. As individual as he perceives himself to be he is still an Original and nothing_escapes me when it comes to an Original. You should be well aware of that, Wendigo. I have power over _all Gene Stealers."

Wendigo suddenly let out a relieved gasp, panting heavily.

"Until you all reach my level of evolution, you will be at my mercy. A goal you should all strive to achieve."

"But why have us play out the duplicity?" Dragon Knight asked. "With all due respect, Lord Chimera."

"Because now we have lulled Minos into a false sense of security. He believes us to be on the receiving end while he prepares for his 'masterpiece' at the Top Art exhibition to be revealed two weeks from now. However, what he does not anticipate is the move that Shark Tamer and I have already put into motion. Have the packages been sent?"

Shark Tamer's grin returned to his features. "Of course, Lord Chimera."

"Good. We have obtained all the data we need from the Minos Strain. The last thing left to accomplish is to merely watch as the rest of this play reaches its conclusion. Enjoy the show, everyone. I assure you, it will be most... gratifying."

*****

Caleb groaned softly. His entire body hurt and his skin prickled constantly. His mind swirled with memories, struggling to remember what had happened. A crash... their transport had crashed!

He pushed his eyes open and looked up, that movement alone straining his neck. All around him were scenes of devastation right out of a mecha movie. Entire buildings were crumbling as enormous beasts clashed in the streets. He saw the enormous bear that they had encountered previously struggling against an enormous panel of solid metal. The bear simply sliced through it with its huge claws. Not too far away, he saw Raging Hound smashing into a draconic creature, Hound desperately trying to keep the collateral damage to a minimum. Not too far away, a demonic, one-eyed creature was being bombarded by gunfire.

It took him a moment to realise that he wasn't at ground level either. He was resting on his belly on top of a building. Behind him was the fiery remains of the transport but it was sitting somewhat upright. It looked like despite the damage, Bren had managed to land it before it exploded. He recalled Bren telling them all to get out and jumping out with Mary in his arms...

Mary!

He glanced around.

Mary stood at the edge of the building, Ashton kneeling beside her and clutching his side. It looked like he was bandaging her leg.

He tried to stand but the pain in his legs was unbearable. Glancing down, there didn't seem to be any major damage but jumping out of a moving transport still probably did a number on his muscles. With a monumental amount of willpower, he managed to prop himself up on his paws and knees and...

... left leg buckled -

... only for a strong pair of paws to seize him and hoist him to his feet. Lars grunted as he carried Caleb towards where Mary and Ashton were standing.

"Where's Ben?" he asked.

"Out there fighting," answered the Doberman. "He joined the rest of the Alpha Pack in fighting those things. The rest of the Alliance is scrambling but they're finding it hard to keep the monsters back. They're huge."

"Gnoll has also appeared on the battlefield," Mary said. "At least according to the news." She handed Caleb a tablet where the channel feed was going wild about four superpowered hyenas fitting the Gnoll strain fighting one of the huge monsters that was ravaging the city.

"What do we do?" Caleb asked. He gasped as a slight movement jostled his right arm. It felt like it was broken.

"You can't fight like this," Mary said, shaking her head. "And I don't know how much use I am either. These guys aren't sentient. I can't get any thoughts from them."

"We have to do something! We can't just stand here and watch!"

"What else can you do, mate?" Ashton asked, standing up. He looked terrible with a rather ragged scar down his face, just barely missing his eye. The fur on his right arm was burnt off revealing the flesh beneath. "You're all banged up. Maybe Lars can go off and fight but the rest of you? Can't be much help in your state."

Again, Caleb wished he had a super's regeneration just so he could get out there and help save his city.

"Perhaps you will not be able to defeat those enormous creatures on their own," came the ominous voice from behind them. They all turned around to find Arcturus striding calmly towards them, the burning wreckage silhouetting his features perfectly. Behind him, Caleb could see the cockpit where Bren's body no doubt rested being roasted. "But as Mary observed, these creatures do not have minds so that must mean someone must be controlling them."

"Minos..." Caleb whispered.

"Yes and that particular soul _I_can track," the Hound of Death said. He reached Caleb's right arm and pressed a paw against his broken arm. Caleb winced as his injuries were bathed in a gentle, white light. "I can sense his end approaching quickly and the ties he has to these lifeless automatons. They are merely an extension of his will and I can track that to its source."

Arcturus then moved to Mary and gently let his paws hover over her injuries. "What he is doing here is reckless. Neither the Hound of Destruction nor the God of Life agree with it and have made the judgement that it must be stopped. They have set the date and time of his demise but know that it is not this night. You must stop him and I will aid you."

"Deus ex machina anyone?" Ashton asked.

"Quite so," the Hound of Death said. "Though loss of life cannot be prevented with this rampage, it is still unjustified."

"Hang on. You said the God of Life and the Hound of Destruction set the date for Minos' death. How can they not see the deaths of all these people down there?"

Caleb knew the answer. "Because people are capable of both taking a life and saving it. I think the Hounds expected Minos to save instead of kill. That was part of their plan but ultimately, it was still Minos' choice." He glanced at the Hound. "Am I right?"

Arcturus smiled softly and nodded. "Correct. There was a change in the Gene Stealer's life recently that we believed would change him for the better and avoid this needless mayhem. Sadly, it was not enough to steer him away from his course." He pulled his paws away from Mary. "There. Now for you, Ashton -"

"No," the tiger said, stepping away. "I'm fine. Just a few scratches and bruises. Go get Minos."

"Are you sure?" Mary asked out of genuine concern.

"Just don't forget about me, okay?" He winked and then winced. "Winking hurts..."

Arcturus stepped towards the edge of the building. He held out his paw to Mary. "Come, I shall lead you to him. Caleb, pick up your weapon. Lars, will you be able to carry him?"

Caleb exchanged glances with Lars and the two exchanged firm nods. He swiped Branding Iron from the ground and jumped onto Lars' back. The contact brought memories of that time when Lars had brought him to the site of Madman's first emergence. It was right after that their first trial game of the season and he had gone home depressed because he felt like he hadn't achieved anything that night after bailing on the team, leading to their loss.

As Lars leapt into the air, following a magically propelled Arcturus, Caleb could not but wonder what would have happened had events had turned differently that day. What would have happened if they had dealt a resounding defeat against Madman and the game had been won? In his haste to extract a victory from the day, he had chosen Lance when initially he had hoped to end things with his brother.

He glanced off into the terrible battles that were tearing through the city and wondered about his brother... more than just his safety... but about their relationship... Had he been hasty in his decision...? He was just eighteen years old and already he and Lance were making plans for the future more than five years in advance.

"There!" Arcturus shouted, Mary in his arms.

They saw a lone figure standing atop an apartment complex, gazing off into the distance where an enormous spider was being attacked by a localised lightning storm. It was a bull but he was shorter than the other mega-males. He was just about six and a half feet tall but bulging with muscles and with most of his upper torso completely covered in tattoos. His torso was left exposed to the elements while he only wore a pair of tightfitting leather pants.

As the four landed, Arcturus bowed and apologised as he could not interfere.

Caleb readied Branding Iron, stepping as quietly as possible towards the bull. Lars was right behind him and Mary beside the Doberman. The bull's ears flicked and he turned around. There was a grin on his features for the briefest of moments before it faded.

"You being here suggested Spit Roast and Bullhorn have failed." The bull frowned deeply. "Pity... I thought they had caught you off guard and without your weapons, you'd be helpless."

"Your information was shit," Caleb growled.

"What happened to them?" The concern on the bull's features was... puzzling. Did Minos actually show concern for his subordinates?

"Bullhorn is having some sticky white gunk shaven off his fur but he's otherwise fine. He and Spit Roast are being put in cryogenic stasis where they can't harm anyone ever again."

Minos let out a soft laugh. "At least they're together." He turned back towards the scenes of destruction. "The other Gene Stealers consider you all a far greater threat than all the Elemental Alliance combined. Perhaps because you are the linchpin that holds the efforts against them together; a group of wannabes that have somehow recruited a villainous band of werewolves and converted a member of the Alliance. You have representatives from all factions." Minos snorted softly. "Perhaps even the Gene Stealers as you have the capability to transform into a hyena of Gnoll's breed, don't you, Weapons Master?"

Caleb didn't say a word.

"What do you think this is all about?" asked the Gene Stealer, spreading his arms wide towards the carnage in front of him. "Only once before has a Gene Stealer made such an impact on this city and that was when Gnoll broke out his brethren from Bal-Mordain. The purpose was simply to retrieve his troops. So what do you think the purpose of this is?"

"Getting your rocks off?" growled Caleb.

"Chaos? Death? Just because you feel like it?" added Lars with equal venom in his voice.

Strangely, Mary's voice was surprised as she said, "Awareness..."

Minos lowered his arms and turned fully towards them, his curly brown mane of hair fully visible to them. "Ah... Either you're intuitive or you have a special gift that lets you probe other's minds." He tapped the side of his head lightly. "Tell me. What is my message?"

Mary's eyes widened and her jaw fell open. "You're telling the world about the threat the Gene Stealers pose." She flung around, spinning around in a full circle. "A dragon... a spider... You're telling the world about the forms of the Originals. But the bear...? And there's one unaccounted for..."

The bull smiled softly. "Even I don't know what Chimera looks like. Somehow, he keeps himself in perpetual shadow. The best I can do is the demon. As for the bear...? Well, Shark Tamer already has the next strain ready. Now you know what to expect."

Caleb couldn't understand. Was this a warning on what was to come? A full-scale invasion of the monumental power of the Gene Stealers? As he glanced around, he saw that there was a twisted, emaciated creature that could only be Wendigo slashing through the city. He couldn't see the shark but he knew_it was there and from the loud _booms, he guessed Gnoll had engaged the feral hyena barely hidden behind the buildings.

"This is what is to come," Minos continued. "The world cannot continue to treat the Gene Stealers like some localised pest that is within the jurisdiction of the Elemental Alliance alone. They will spread. They will_extend their influence to the rest of the world and they _will cause this much devastation across the entire planet if left unchecked."

Caleb swiped his sword through the air in frustration. "Then why didn't you just tell us!?"

"It is not you I have to convince!" snarled the bull. "It's the world!" He lifted his hands into the air. "The world is segregated. Countries bicker, torn asunder by greedy businesses and divided by such trivial matters as state, political views and even_race_! Outsiders play a selfish tug of war against supers while people all around them suffer from their inactivity! How easy was it to free my people from an Outsider facility!? If they had merely united as one, that would _never_have happened!"

Lars stepped forward, stomping his foot angrily. "Are you shitting me!? All of this is some perverse lesson!? Some twisted moral about how we should be working together against the Gene Stealers!? You're killing people down there!"

"The world is my canvas!" roared Minos. "Blood is my paint! Suffering my muse!" He balled a fist and shook it at the Outsiders. "The world will hear my message with West California Island as my masterpiece! Only with the world united will Chimera be defeated!"

Caleb growled and brought his sword swinging downwards. Diamond shards wreathed the weapon, extending it well over twenty feet. Minos dodged the blow with uncanny speed. "You're just perpetuating the stereotype of some fucked up villain that's doing the right thing going about it the wrong way! What happened to just telling people!? You could've just come to us! You know we'd" - He swung his sword horizontally but Minos leapt over the blade easily - "listen!"

"As I've said, it is not you or the other Outsiders I must convince." Mary was suddenly in front of him, hiding beneath the shadow of Caleb's blade to close the distance between them. Her blades were a flurry in the air, slicing at Minos. The bull danced back, a scowl on his features. "You know the risks but even you are paralysed by the government's hesitation to act! They must be propelled, coerced and urged to make the final commitment to prioritise the Gene Stealers above all else!"

Lars was suddenly beside Mary, the two of them lashing out at Minos with their own versions of swords; Mary with her combine swords and Lars with his fiery blue blades. Lars lashed out a Minos' legs, forcing the bull to leap into the air. Mary instantly vaulted over his shoulders and slammed her feet into Minos' chest, sending the bull careening across the roof. Minos landed in a crouch but not before two glass minotaurs appeared on either side of him and swung their enormous axes.

CLANG!

Thing bands of ink flooded from his arms, seizing the arms of the bull. The bands formed into massive, skeletal arms, springing from the shoulders of the Gene Stealer. The arms yanked the glass axes from the minotaurs and swung it back at them, instantly shattering them.

"Killing all these people isn't the answer!" Lars shouted.

"Then what is!?" barked Minos, huge, black, webbed wings springing from his back, all influenced by his power over art. "This world only understands one thing and only one thing is universal; pain! It is the only common language all societies share! If I show them the pain to come, they will unite to prevent it!"

"Do you even know what Chimera has planned!?" Caleb shouted, slamming his sword into the ground. The extended diamond sword shattered, sending sharp spikes into the air. Upon his command, the spikes hurled themselves at Minos. The bull's tattoos all came to life, long snakes erupted from his arms and back and thrashing wildly about, knocking the blades of diamond off course.

"No but it does not matter," Minos answered. "I have seen the extent of his power. He preaches of evolution for all the planet but all the while, he possesses indescribable control over anyone that he calls a Gene Stealer." The Gene Stealer slammed his hands into the ground. Black tendrils of ink slithered across the asphalt and suddenly shot out of the ground in the form of sharp, black spikes. Caleb leapt back, bringing up his arm guards for protection. The black bands bounced off harmlessly against the diamond-hard frame.

"The ability for Spider Queen to self-destruct her Thralls?" Minos continued. "It all came from him! Shark Tamer may play as the genetic genius but it is Chimera that provides him the samples and the path! He is leading us all to a future forcefully. A future that is not ours and in its wake, he will leave only destruction!"

"How do you know that!?" Mary shouted, combining her swords into its spear form and lunging at him. Minos threw himself to the side and thrust his hand at her. A ferocious dragon's head flew off his arm and seized her in its jaws.

Minos lifted Mary into the air, the jaws of the dragon closing in around her. "Are you defending him!? Are you sympathising with the monster that would rob the world of all its identity to fit his twisted vision of evolution and rob good men of their innocence, pride and nobility!?"

Blue flames shot straight towards the draconic arm, slamming into its scales and sending it writhing. It flung Mary to the side and she slammed against an air conditioning vent. Despite the blow, she staggered to her feet and picked up her spear.

Lars came lunging at Minos from behind, blue flames shooting from his palms. A massive bull's skull on the back of Minos came to life, slamming its horns right into the Doberman. Lars was hurled back but the flames on his feet kept him from slamming into the ground. He wiped his muzzle with his arm. "And you think depriving other people of the opportunity to be good and noble is any better!?"

For a second, Caleb saw something in Minos' eyes... Was that regret?

A huge shadow suddenly passed over him and he turned in time to see the _huge_bear lift its paw and bring it crashing down upon them. Before he could scream, huge metal shackles sprang out of nowhere and seized the bear's enormous wrists, yanking it back.

"Weapons Master!" Feral Steel shouted. The super's eyes flicked to Minos. "Is that...?"

"Minos!" Caleb cried. "Take him down and the others fall! But leave him to us! Protect the city from the big guys!"

"I don't take orders from you!"

Wham!

Feral Fang suddenly landed between Caleb and David Hale. "Dad! He's right! The big guys are stronger! We need to protect the civs!"

Feral Steel let out a begrudging growl and turned towards the enormous bear.

Lance turned to Caleb, the flicker of a smile on his muzzle. But that flicker faded almost the same instant it came as a warning erupted from his lips.

"Weap -"

Caleb turned... and found himself staring down Minos as the bull came charging at him, the enormous draconic arm shooting straight for his head. He took a step back out of instinct.

SHOOM!

Huge, crustal swords came shooting out of the ground, slicing right through the draconic flesh and severing it from the rest of the Gene Stealer. He heard Minos slam hard into the wall of crystal blades and grinned to himself. That must've looked comical.

At that moment, pain erupted from his arm and leg. He gasped and fell to his knees as Branding Iron became encased in brilliant, blue light with white feathers erupting from its form. Lance protectively wrapped him in his massive arms as the light swept across his other arm. It wrapped around his forearm in three, tight bands before spreading to become a large, rectangular panel.

When it dissipated into the last few feathers, he was left with an enormous, metal and diamond shield reminiscent of the ancient legionaries of Rome. He stood up, finding that the shield was almost as tall as he was but just as light as his blade.

A tremendous roar erupted from behind his wall of swords. Minos sprang from behind the wall, swinging a regenerated dragon head at Lance and knocking the four-armed wolf away. He brought the arm crashing down upon Caleb who instinctively brought up his shield.

WHAM!

The force of the blow sent Caleb to his knees but the shield did not break. Grimacing, he jabbed his sword around his blade, piercing the dragon's head. At the same time, a large blade of diamond shot out of the ground and sliced right through the extended limb.

Minos gave a cry of shock as a diamond spear came shooting out of thin air and came to within an inch of his face. Spinning, diamond knives sliced through the air, tearing his large, webbed wings to shreds and sending him to the ground. The bull's panic became apparent when he vaulted into the air only for his summoned bear to catch him.

Caleb spun around, fangs bared.

"It's working!" Lars shouted. "Look! There's only three of the bastards left!"

Caleb glanced at the battlefield. Including the bear, only the spider and dragon remained and they were quickly losing ground. Even Minos could see his impending defeat.

The Gene Stealer looked down with contempt at Caleb and the Outsiders. Feral Steel came shooting towards from the side but the bear swiped him away, sending the super crashing into a nearby building. Caleb couldn't help but look in the direction of his father in concern.

"Chimera was right to make you Outsiders the centre of his attention," Minos said, bringing Caleb's attention back to the bull. "But none of that will matter once my message is seen and heard."

The gargantuan bear suddenly lifted his paws and brought them crashing straight down at the building.

BOOM!

*****

That had not gone as planned.

Lester had hoped that the destruction would be enough and he had hoped to eliminate that particular band of Outsiders that Chimera seemed intent on preserving. He didn't know why the leader of the Gene Stealers wanted Weapons Master and his team alive but it was crucial to his master plan and a reason why he had tasked Gnoll with pulling them out of the city while Lester was meant to perform more experiments with 'love'.

Love... he spat at their understanding of the concept as he strode up to Emerson's apartment. Shark Tamer and Chimera had no idea what love was.

He had hoped to eliminate the Outsiders completely and utterly by sending Bullhorn and Spit Roast against them but that had obviously not worked. Unleashing his horde of monsters was meant to be his message. He had hoped that it would be enough, that he wouldn't be forced to unveil his masterpiece at the art gallery in two weeks.

But it wasn't.

Oh the way home, he joined the crowds gathered around public sites to watch the news on the events that had transpired.

"This is the efforts of a deranged madman," Feral Steel had said. "This does not fit the MO of the Gene Stealers and no one was transformed. We are forced to conclude that -"

"Don't listen to him!" Flare Blue shouted. "He's lying! This was Minos' doing! This was a Gene Stealer attack! There weren't any transformations but it was a Gene Stealer! A Gene Stealer!"

Once again, the world was split down the middle. This time between super and Outsider. He had failed and his message would have to be heard through a different medium.

He sighed to himself and entered Emerson's apartment. It was dark but then again, it was late. No doubt his leopard was well and truly asleep.

The guilt of dozens of lives were on his hands but that wouldn't matter in two weeks. In two weeks, it would be all worth it. He just wanted to cuddle up to the man he had fallen for. Ironically, it was the blabbering of that super-slash-outsider, Flare Blue that had made him realise that he truly loved Emerson.

"And you think depriving other people of the opportunity to be good and noble is any better!?"

No... No he did not think that was right. He did not want to become like Chimera and the others. That was why he had opted to activate his artworks instead of just using them to turn the entire city into a mass of raving lunatics eager for sex. He did not want to do that to people... not anymore. Not after he realised he wanted Emerson to remain Emerson and that he regretted _ever_trying to use him in his scheme to undo the Gene Stealers.

Unfortunately, he would have to stoop to that level.

"Emmy?" he whispered softly, entering the bedroom. "Emmy? You here?"

Crash!

That sounded like it came from the study.

The same study where he was keeping his masterpiece.

"Oh no..."

Eyes suddenly wide in horror, Lester spun around and bolted across the room faster than even his super-enhanced body could have made possible. He burst into the study, spying the small lamp on and shining at his partially complete masterpiece. On the floor, crouched on his paws and knees, body writhing in agony as the change turned his beautiful, golden fur into dark brown and began pushing horns out of his temples... was Emerson Wills.

"Emerson!" he cried, hurrying towards his love.

"Get away!" Emerson roared, flinging a paw at him. "I'm... I'm... I can't..." He threat his head back, letting out a roar that trailed into a faint moo that just broke Lester's heart. The tattoos had spread all over the leopard's back and he could see it seeping into his legs, pushing them past his expensive slacks.

"No! Come on!" Lester shouted, seizing the leopard's paw and pulling at him with his super strength. "Get up! Come on!"

"Get away from me!" roared Emerson, pushing him away. For a moment, their eyes met. One eye was its usual, soft baby blue but the other was the jet black of all his creations. "I... I don't want to hurt you..."

Lester found the tears on his face unbearable. "You won't..." He whispered softly, reaching out and touching his leopard's shifting features. "Trust me... you won't."

"Le - ster..."

He pressed their lips together, closing his eyes and quietly vowing to himself to cherish these moments.

*****

Never before had the division that Minos spoke of been more evident than that moment that Feral Steel had lied to the public about the Gene Stealer attack. It was well known that the intel came from the Outsiders. That there were no transformations and the attack did not fit the normal Gene Stealer MO piled the evidence against the team. People were slandering Steel for downplaying Gene Stealer involvement while others were calling the Outsiders lairs, mostly the latter.

Caleb decided that issue would have to wait for the morning. He had already gotten a call from Elliot to make sure he was in the Facility by morning. Apparently there were more developments based on what Minos had revealed, what Shark Tamer had told them and the fact that Gnoll was well and active with _three_other supers.

His family still thought he was on holiday and he had opted to stay at Ben's place for the night. They had called him about the events and he had feigned panic and concern though they had insisted he remain where he was until it was 'absolutely safe'.

That said, it must've been a surprise for Lance when he entered Caleb's room, looking for a good night's sleep and found his brother sitting on the bed.

Caleb had jumped to his feet, smiling broadly and ready to throw himself at his brother. He hadn't really planned to get that much sleep but when he saw Lance's face... his smile wavered.

"Hey..." he greeted softly.

"Hey," Lance responded, his voice filled with sorrow.

"Is... Is something wrong?" He knew the answer, dreaded it since the day Lance had returned. At that moment, he wanted to just turn around, leap through the door and leave. Better to know what Lance meant than to hear it.

"I... We can't do this anymore, Cale."

For some reason, his mind had just completely abandoned him and despite having a speech prepared weeks ago, he still said, "Do what?"

Lance gestured between himself and Caleb. "Us... I can't keep our relationship up. Fighting with Dad on the field, pretending to hate you out there and then having wild sex with you behind his back? Caleb... It's crazy... and it's tearing me apart. Back there, I wanted to be by your side and protect you but I just can't do that! Not with so many eyes watching and with this secret... Helping Dad... it was the hardest thing I had to do because it abandoned you."

Caleb took a step away from him, jaw open in shock. "Are... Are we breaking up?" Again, he knew the answer but his heart refused to listen and just kept playing dumb, demanding to hear those damning words.

Seeing his brother give that little bob of his head up and down was the most devastating thing he had seen all night. Against seven rampaging monsters of Godzilla-like size he had managed to stand his ground but that little gesture was enough to send him crashing backwards into his bed. "Yeah... I'm afraid so..."

"But... I thought we were going to move in together... go to college and... and..."

"There's something I realised about that," Lance said softly. "I've made a decision, Caleb... And that's to stay with Dad, fight alongside him and protect this family. But that's my choice. It isn't yours."

"But -"

Lance held up a paw. "Let me finish."

Caleb shut his mouth, his protests slamming against the wall of his teeth and coming out as whimpers.

"Almost every friend I've made," Lance continued, "was raised and born here in West Cali. The farthest I've ever wandered from home is when I went to DC with my school group on a field trip and even then, Dad came with me. My destiny is right here. Nowhere else. But you..." The smile on his face was sad and the tears welling in his eyes made Caleb want to cry. "You're destined for greater things, Cale. You've got a bud from the UK. Just this weekend, you've been to Canada. You've got a supervillain and a superhero for friends and allies plus an endlessly respawning FBI agent.

"And me...?" Lance ducked his head slightly. "I'm the son of a superhero. I might end up going to other dimensions or something but really... My destiny is here. I can't go into other states without a media frenzy let alone other countries. You? You can fly around anywhere you want legally or illegally." He laughed a little bitterly. "It's funny, isn't it? Supers with their 'superior' powers can't move outside their jurisdiction but Outsiders can come and go as they wish..."

Caleb looked at his paws and was surprised to find that they weren't shaking. The speeches he had rehearsed were starting to come back in. "You wanted me to move in with you when you went to college."

"And that was wrong of me." Lance's lips quivered. "When you love something... you have to know when to let it go and be free."

"This is about Ben taking us to Canada, isn't it?"

Lance smiled but it was a gesture tainted with sadness. "You're going to see the world, Cale, with your own eyes. I'll see it through TV images and recordings. And not because I'm being forced to. But because that's what I'm choosing."

It took all of Caleb's effort to say, "Can I ask why?"

His brother looked up at him bashfully. "Has Dad told you about Ryan?"

"The Outsider that he fell in love with, who sacrificed himself and left a lasting marking on Dad. Yeah."

Lance nodded slowly. "Dad is hurting bad, Cale. Abby is going to get married whenever Arthur grows the balls to propose and mom is stressed keeping us all in line while being the senator's assistant. I can't leave them..."

"And you think I can!?" he barked, finding his voice rising in anger.

"Yeah," Lance replied, surprisingly easily. "Because you're going to do much more than just save West California Island, Cale. I can see it. Dad may not be able to see it but the Gene Stealers aren't just restricted to our island. They're your foes and where they go, you go."

For a moment, Caleb paused. He understood part of Minos' message... Just as Lance said, the Gene Stealers were everywhere and they would take the world down if they could.

"I don't doubt you love us, Cale," Lance said. "But the world needs you more than we do." He gave Caleb a lopsided grin. "Especially with me around."

"But -"

"I look into the future, I don't imagine myself in your arms," Lance said abruptly, stopping Caleb in his tracks. Lance pressed a paw against his chest, eyes cast down. "I once told you that the incestuous nature of our relationship was what clinched it for me, why I wanted you so bad. I was afraid that when our relationship was out in the open, it would shatter."

"And it didn't!"

"That's because I found another reason to make it forbidden."

Caleb wanted to protest even louder, that those nights that they spent together was true love and affection but in reality... what was it but just a product of lust? Lance said it himself, fucking each other after pretending to be enemies in public was a massive turn on. Ultimately, their relationship went just the way Ben and Lars' did...

"Just... tell me honestly, Lance, cross your heart and swear to God... When you close your eyes and imagine the future, without trying or forcing yourself, who do you see yourself with?"

Lance shut his eyes, pushing the tears out. His paws clenched into fists and he grit his teeth together. Then, he abruptly relaxed and opened his eyes, a soft sigh escaping from his lips. "I don't know..."

"But it isn't me, is it?"

The bigger wolf shook his head sadly. "No... I'm so sorry, Caleb..."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yeah... Me too." It surprised him that his cheeks were dry. "I was swept up in the moment and the sex. The sex was pretty damn awesome, though." He tried to laugh but it just came out a soft, choking sound. Lance's laugh sounded like he was gurgling.

"So... What now?" his brother asked.

"I think we tell the family," he responded. "Honestly, I think they'll be happy. And we go on doing what we're doing. Rivals on the field, brothers at home. Nothing more." He held out his paw.

"Yeah... Okay..." Lance took Caleb's paw and pulled him into one last hug, holding him tight. "I love you Caleb... I always will..."

"Me too Lance... Me too..."

They parted ways with Caleb slipping out of the window and sneaking out the backyard. He could feel Lance's eyes on the back of his head as he snuck out of yard. He tried desperately to not look back because he knew it would break his heart. Slipping out of sight of the house was almost a relief. He walked two blocks away from his house before a black convertible with its hood pulled up stopped beside him.

"Need a ride?" Mary asked, pushing her door open.

"How much did you hear?" he asked, sliding into the driver's side.

"Enough. Are you alright?" she asked softly.

"No," he answered. "It feels like someone tore out my heart and replaced it with a cold, hard, lump of concrete."

She pursed her lips and let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry, Caleb..."

"It's okay. I think we all knew it was going to happen... just a matter of when."

She nodded and stopped at the traffic lights. "You know I'll always support whatever decision you make, right?"

"Yeah." He reached into his pocket and handed her a sheet of paper. "Hey, can you drop me off at this address instead of Ben's?"

She gazed at the sheet and her eyebrows rose. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"But -"

He had to distract her. "How long have you and Ashton been dating?" She balked and stared at him for a good, long minute. "The light's green."

Even without thinking, she hit the gas and began zooming towards Caleb's specified address. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure," he responded with a soft smile.

It did not take that long to reach the apartment complex and he stepped out of the car, thanking her for the ride and bidding her a goodnight. He strode up six flights of steps to apartment 6D where he rang the doorbell. He already had the key but he felt it better if he rang.

When the door opened, Lars' eyes were wide in surprise.

"Cale... What's going on?"

Caleb, who had been so well composed at that point, opened his muzzle and all the tears he had built up just came rushing out from the corner of his eyes. His voice broke as he confessed, "Lance and I just broke up... Can... Can I...?"

Lars immediately stepped aside, his eyes only showing sympathy.

"Yeah, yeah, of course. Come in. Stay as long as you need."